The Coming
of Age
In Palo Alto

In the wind, my hair was like fire or cotton candy.
I lay stoned in a field of stars.
Deer came out of the forest and destroyed our gold tomatoes.
Dinner was never on time.

I lay stoned in a field of stars.
I crashed the car.
Dinner was never on time.
Sex was painful but obligatory.

I crashed the car.
My mother read about murder and smiled.
Sex was painful but obligatory.
My father screamed.

My mother read about murder and smiled.
Nothing good ever happened with the lights on.
My father screamed.
We cruised all night in Jeff's red mustang.

Nothing good ever happened with the lights on.
I put a star under my tongue.
We cruised all night in Jeff's red mustang.
The streets ended too soon and we had to turn back.

I put a star under my tongue.
I lay stoned in a field of swords.
A unicorn came out of the forest and destroyed our gold.
In the wind, his hair was like fire.

--- Christine Hamm
From The Salt Daughter
Little Poem Press
PO Box 185
Falls Church
Virginia
22040